Rawnsley Park Station or Wilpena pound area

[GGV8Cruza]

If you were travelling into the area and had 5 days to chill out where would you stay, just trying to work out the final details. Looking at September Vic school holidays

Cheers in advance

Garrick

[JCAT]

We stayed at Rawnsley Park Station and couldn't fault it.

Wilpena looked great as well.

There are plenty of great walks from each.

The views from Rawnsley are probably better, with the bluff at sunset.

[Tjupurula]

If you were travelling into the area and had 5 days to chill out where would you stay, just trying to work out the final details. Looking at September Vic school holidays

Cheers in advance

Garrick

Hi Garrick
A coup of my grandkids went on a school trip to the Wilpena Pound last year, and the photo's they brought back, as well as all their excited talk let me know that it is a sensational area.  They even found some sites not officially recognised, apparently there are some actual rock marking that are "officially" graffiti, but in truth they have actual definition, and could not have been done by someone not knowing what they are doing.  Having seen the photos, the children were correct.
Regards
Tjupurula

[Crisp Image]

Powered or unpowered?
We stayed at Wilpina powered and it was great. The unpowered sites were a bit away from the amenities but if you don't mind the walk then go for it.
Rawnsley park did not look as inviting for the powered sites but cant comment on the unpowered.
Regards
Crispy

[GGV8Cruza]

solar for us, living off the grid

GG

[JCOJ]

We have stayed at both many times, but for us Rawnsley has more appeal.  They do free information nights there which are very interesting, they have a pool (maybe not such a consideration in winter), the views of the Bluff are sensational, and just a great place to stay.

Why don't you do 3 and 2, then you get the best of both worlds!

[Bird]

Rawnsley for me. I loved the place, shame its so far to go just to get to the start point.

With all the acres, you can find an acre or 5 to have to yourself.

[Yimmy]

Rawnsley for us as well,

Stayed on a powered site but if we went back we would camp behind the dam with a bit of privacy and peace & quiet

I have some awesome photos of the bluff at sunset

Jim

[gclan]

I was just wondering the same thing Garrick. You must have been reading my mind

Thanks everyone!


Karen

[crackacoldie]

If you are staying off grid, and really want to experience the Flinders, then Willow Springs station beats the other two hands down, has showers at the homestead and private campgrounds, not caravan park sites.

Cracka

[jimc1]

yep...+1 vote for Rawnsley. Just dont go when its hot, as there is no respite from the heat.

I was there on a 49 degree day..even lizards were fighting over the shade!

[gclan]

Cracka, I was all set on Rawnsley, then you came along .....Aaarggghhh!!!!

[crackacoldie]

Cracka, I was all set on Rawnsley, then you came along .....Aaarggghhh!!!!

I like to through spanners in the works

Seriously though, Willow springs is much more of a bush camp setting and you can hide away from others.  Brendon and Carmel, the owners, are really friendly and helpful too.  Willow Springs is also home to Sky Trek, which is a good 4wd track and offers some of the best views in the mid Flinders.  From the top of Mt Caernarvon, you can see Wilpena Pound as a shape and get a real feel for its enormity.

Cracka

[oldblade]

Rawnsley for me  its a great spot and even the Power sites have heaps of Room
We had booked non power but when we got there ve choose power as it was nice and Remote and we could run still a 240v heater

[austastar]

Hi,
   we were in the Wilpena Pound CP 10 years ago, only stayed two nights.
We were having battery problems, needed power, but baulked at the cost of powered sites.


The staff were kind enough to suggest we park in the unpowered sites near the camp kitchen, and take the battery and charger in to the kitchen area  for the night.


We did the Pound walk and climbed St Marys Peak, but found other camp areas further out more to our liking.


cheers

[krisandkev]

This was our camp spot at Rawnsley Park in 2010, facing the pound.   What can I say, beautiful!   And try and do a plane flight over the pound    Kevin

[Spada]

  Willow Springs is also home to Sky Trek, which is a good 4wd track and offers some of the best views in the mid Flinders.  From the top of Mt Caernarvon, you can see Wilpena Pound as a shape and get a real feel for its enormity.

Cracka
[/quote]

Last year when I was there, That section of skytreck was closed as they had lost the access rights to the park. There is still a nice drive through the station property, but alas, they no longer have the high peaks available. 

[Bird]

This was our camp spot at Rawnsley Park in 2010, facing the pound.   What can I say, beautiful!   And try and do a plane flight over the pound    Kevin

that looks same as the place we had.. we had the ridge right behind us too!

[Mace]

Rawnsley Park, out the back. 5 minute dive for showers. Find your own site, take heavy duty pegs! Toilets provided, that flush, within 5 minutes walk.

Wonderful place.

[areyonga]

Rawnsley Park and try their 4x4 trek, its great especially the second half.  I didnt like the changes SkyTrek have made to their track due to the problems with the other landholders.  Rawnsley also have access to mobile reception around their camp kitchen

Trevor

[topcat]

GG - went to Wilpena Pound at same time last year. Took 2 easy days to get there from SE Melb.  Stayed in unpowered site for 2 weeks. Great place. Would probably stay at Willow Springs when we go back. Check out the perichelna hotel (spelling?).
The family will LOVE it. So much to see.
Tony

[GGV8Cruza]

Thanks for the info, keep it coming, will get the map out and start planning

GG

[Patt31]

another spanner, we have just spent 2 1/2 weeks exploring the Flinders and stayed at the Cambrian campground, you need to be self sufficient (has drop toilets) but we found it central to what we wanted to do (geological trail, wilpena etc). however in talking with locals willow springs and sky trek if you want facilities and great 4x4 track.

[GGV8Cruza]

Leave has been signed off, now to work out a plan and book some places to stay

GG

[Jjw1234]

We have just come back from wilpena. We loved it!!! We drove into rawsley but personally I preferred the pound